Srisailam

Srisailam is situated in the Nallamalai Hills of Kurnool district. Srisailam is a popular weekend getaway owing to the presence of a forest sanctuary and a Shiva shrine. Srisailam is well connected to all the major cities and it is located at a distance of about 220 km from Hyderabad, 230 km from Vijayawada and 175 km from Kurnool.

Located on the southern banks of the River Krishna at an altitude of 1500 ft. above sea level, Srisailam is known for the Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple which is dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy.

Srisailam, initially known as Mantharaparvata, is also called by the name Sriparvata or Srigiri. The Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple of Srisailam is one among the twelve Jyothirlingas of Lord Shiva or Dwadasa Jyothirlingas.

Skandhapurana, one of the eighteen puranas compiled by Vyasa, has a chapter called Srisailakhanda, under the caption Sanatkumara Samhita, in which the holiness of the Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple of Srisailam has been explained in detail. In Mahabharata, Srisailam is referred to as Sri Parvata, the blessed hill.

Srisailam has spiritual significance attached to it since it is also a seat of the Ashtadasa Mahasakthi Pithas or the eighteen Sakthi-peethas. As per Bharathakanda, Devi Bhramramba of Srisailam is the first Sakthi of the eighteen Sakthis.

Though an ancient shrine, Srisailam reached its glory during the 12th century by the Sharana Movement and Vachana Sahitya, which were headed by Basavanna. As per legends, ancient saints like Adi Sankara visited this temple and Akka Mahadevi, the acclaimed social reformer and poet, gained salvation in the caves of Srisailam.

The pilgrimage town of Srisailam is also a famous forest sanctuary which is home to India’s largest tiger reserve.  Srisailam Wildlife Sanctuary, which spreads to the five adjoining states, is the natural habitat of diverse species of flora and fauna.

Tigers, panthers, spotted deer, giant squirrels, pangolins, crocodiles, civets and different species of snakes are spotted here. The lush and dense Nallamalai forest ranges is a popular destination for trekking, hill climbing, forest exploration and research, to which Srisailam town acts as a base camp.

The ancient pilgrim destination of Srisailam is a popular weekend getaway from Hyderabad and other cities of Andhra Pradesh. Besides the Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple, clusters of minor shrines and Wildlife Sanctuary, there is the 512 m long Srisailam Dam on the River Krishna, which offers views of the Ghats, cliffs and forests.